1-1: USA chokes Mexico

Despite the fact that he controlled the game and enjoyed more and better chances, Mexico did not exceed a draw in their friendly matches USA and thus extended his troubled descent against his great rival, whom he had not beaten in nearly four years (1-1).

The State Farm Stadium in Glendale (Phoenix, USA), the place where the last edition of the Super Bowl was held, experienced an amazing atmosphere with the stands almost full (55,730 spectators) and colored green by a Mexican fan base which, however, was left with honey on the lips.

Antuna, after a mistake by Long, put a Mexican team ahead that had many chances to seal the match. But the team led by Argentine Diego Cocca paid dearly for their goallessness and conceded the equalizer in the 82nd minute with a goal from Colombian-American Ferreira on a counterattack for a USA signing a gray performance but ended up saving a tie.

Since September 2019, in another friendly, Mexico has not beaten the US, which it has faced four times since then (not counting yesterday) with one draw and three losses (including lost Cup finals). Gold and the Concacaf Nations League). Since Cocca took over, El Tri have won one (Suriname) and drawn twice (Jamaica and USA).

Although both squads were missing star players as it was not a FIFA date, this match served as a preview for the League of Nations semifinal that Mexico and the US will play in June.

In addition, this friendly started the Allstate Continental Classic, a US initiative for the Stars and Stripes team to face a major rival from North, Central or South America each year.

Control of Mexico without award

With a line of five in defense leaving both flanks to Julián Araujo and Gallardo, Mexico began to press and try to dominate possession. However, El Tri almost had a scare from the start as in the 5th minute, Morris took advantage of a serious mistake in the Mexicans’ pressure, standing alone in front of Acevedo, who saved a shot from the American but almost conceded the goal Rebound. .

The USA gave the ball to a Mexico that controlled the match but lacked depth. With a heavy rhythm and difficulty breaking the lines, the Mexican team found its first clear chance in minute 19 with a good wall in the middle between Chávez and Vega that the midfielder solved with a cross shot that went close on the pole.

The game remained locked until the break and only Chávez rounded up the goal again with a venomous free kick that wandered into the center of the area and went close to the far post.

He didn’t change the script at the start and Mexico kept trying without success. But then Long made a big mistake, losing the ball in midfield and leaving Antuna, who, after a great drive, finished calmly and with great quality against the American goalkeeper.

The goal was impressive for the Mexican team, which began to accumulate endless opportunities: a dangerous free kick by Chávez, a shot from outside the area by De la Rosa, a missile from Sánchez that found the squad without finding it by centimeters. .

With no news from the US, Mexico had their second with a superb shot from Rodríguez hitting the crossbar. But it went from 0-2 in the blink of an eye to a draw for the US, who, on subsequent counterattacks, took advantage of gaps in Mexico’s defense to seal the draw with a goal from Ferreira.

The tie left Mexico already seeing itself as a win that was cold and touching, and that, despite being better than the US, recorded another disappointment against its eternal rival.

DATA SHEET

1 – USA: Johnson; Yedlin, Zimmerman, Long (Miazga, m.70), Dest (Wiley, m. 89); Acosta, Sands; Morris (Pomykal, m.89), Ferreira, Cowell (Soñora, m.64), Vázquez (m.64, Morris).
Coach: Anthony Hudson.
1 – Mexico: Acevedo; Julian Araujo, Reyes, Nestor Araujo, Guzman, Gallardo; Chavez, Sanchez; Antuna, De la Rosa (Herrera, m. 87), Vega (Rodríguez, m. 70).
Instructor: Diego Cocca.
the objectives: 0-1, Antuna (m. 55); 1-1, Ferreira (d. 82)
Referee: Bryan Lopez (Guatemala). Booked Soñora, Zimmerman and Acosta in the US.
happenings: Inaugural friendly match of the Allstate Continental Classic played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale (Phoenix, USA) before 55,730 spectators (the capacity of the venue is 63,000 people, expandable to 73,000.